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#189395 02/19/10 04:24 AM
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Jackie Offline OP
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I am going to hear a speaker on this subject Saturday night. I know next to nothing about the subject; just that it was specially created as a common language for some area or other. Would any of you-all mind giving me a bit of background?

Last edited by Jackie; 02/21/10 04:35 AM.
Jackie #189401 02/19/10 12:21 PM
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Wikipedia to the rescue. Since I assume you won't be bringing any axe to sharpen this should get you into the swing of things. I.e., the Wikipedia article should be reliable enough to get you started.

Faldage #189402 02/19/10 01:31 PM
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During the Q&A, ask the lecturer about Ido (link). To practice your Esperanto, you could look at the article in Vikipedio la libera enciklopedio (link) on Ido.


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zmjezhd #189429 02/21/10 03:02 AM
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Jackie Offline OP
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I did what you said, and his response was different from what your link said, which was Ido was developed in the early 1900s, and retains a sizable following today, primarily in Europe. It is largely based on Esperanto, created by L. L. Zamenhof. Ido first appeared in 1907 as a result of a desire to reform perceived flaws in Esperanto He said Ido was created before Esperanto.

Here's a link to the book he wrote about it: Nuessel

Jackie #189431 02/21/10 04:38 AM
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Oh, I just thought of something else I asked him, and I'll ask you all too; there is no "right" answer, is what he said.

Realistically, given the global economy plus the vast increase in communications capabilities, should people just give up on Esperanto, and let English become "the" lingua franca?

Jackie #189435 02/21/10 03:09 PM
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should people just give up on Esperanto, and let English become "the" lingua franca? I don't think that it is in anybody's (or any organisation's) power to decide this question. Why has English become a lingua franca? Probably mainly for non-linguistic reasons. And there are at least as many people who want to distinguish themselves by their particular language (seen as part of cultural identity), as there are who dream of easy global communication.

Jackie #189436 02/21/10 03:20 PM
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He said Ido was created before Esperanto.

As ido means 'offspring' in Esperanto and because I have read solid-matter books about auxiliary languages, I would have to disagree with the person you asked the question of. Maybe he was thinking of Volapük (link), which did pre-date Esperanto. Therre is also a Volapük Wikipedia (link). OTOH, he sounds more rationale than most of the Esperantistas I've run into over the decades.


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Jackie #189437 02/21/10 03:24 PM
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Realistically, given the global economy plus the vast increase in communications capabilities, should people just give up on Esperanto, and let English become "the" lingua franca?

Latin used to be the official language of a large part of the ancient western world, along Akkadian, Aramaic, Koine Greek, Persian, et al. at different times and in different locations. No doubt English will either morph into another language or be replaced by some other contender.


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zmjezhd #189454 02/22/10 09:19 PM
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Esperanto, why is it so very unattractive?

BranShea #189455 02/22/10 09:29 PM
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why is it so very unattractive?

Not sure. It surely is not very pretty. My wife worked in Sweden way back when for a non-profit organization that used Esperanto for communication amongst its international employees. Most spoke English, even her French co-workers, and the consensus was that it was a butt-ugly lingo.


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